The Subsidiarity Monitoring Network: a vital tool for improving democratic accountability and wider participation of local and regional authorities in the EU legislative process

The Subsidiarity Monitoring Network aims to facilitate the exchange of information between local and regional authorities in the European Union and the EU institutions on European Commission documents and legislative proposals which, have a direct impact on regional and local authorities.

Subsidiarity: a key issue for the Committee of the RegionsSince the Maastricht Treaty in 1994, the Committee of the Regions has been recognised by the EU institutions as the "guardian" of the subsidiarity principle. In 2009, the Lisbon Treaty formalised the Committee of the Regions' role as the defender of these principles, giving the Committee the right to bring a case before the European Court of Justice if it believes the principle has not been upheld.

A network to allow local and regional authorities to have their say: how does it work?

it enables the political participation of local and regional authorities in monitoring the implementation of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles

it raises awareness of the practical application of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles

it keeps CoR rapporteurs and members abreast of input from local and regional players

it helps to identify better law making and increasing the awareness and acceptance of EU policies by citizens

The purpose of the network is to serve as an access point allowing local and regional authorities to obtain information, have their say and put across their points of view on EU policies and legislative proposals.

The Subsidiarity Monitoring Network has a political coordinator, drawn from the members of the CoR, who gives impetus to the Platform's agenda and reports back on its work to the Bureau and other institutions.